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Eight-digit serial LED driver

MAX7219 Basic Circuit

Build a basic MAX7219 circuit with labeled pins, component values and connection guidance.

Package view

MAX7219 in a circuit

Physical IC, named segment buses and separate digit returns.

MAX7219 narrow 24-pin IC connected to a 5 V microcontroller and eight common-cathode digits, with 64.9 kohm ISET resistor and supply bypass capacitors.
Matching net names connect. Segment buses are eight separate wires; digit buses are eight separate returns.

Connect it, step by step

Follow the component values and pin connections

Power and bypass

Use both ground pins and place 100 nF plus 10 µF close to V+.

Connect the digit and segment buses

Use common-cathode displays and map each output by its name.

Configure then enable

Initialize mode, scan limit, RAM and brightness before leaving shutdown.

Component view